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On June 23, 1900, the Southern Railroad Company's Engine #7 and its passengers were greeted by a tremendous storm en route to Atlanta, Georgia. Stalled for some time in nearby McDonough, travelers grew impatient as rain pelted the roof and wind buffeted the cars. When finally given the go-ahead, their resulting joy was short-lived: the locomotive soon reached Camp Creek- and disaster. After weeks of constant showers, the swollen creek had eroded the bridge supports. Under the train's weight, the bridge collapsed, and all but nine perished in either the fiery fall or watery depths. With the help of local newspapers and eyewitness accounts, Georgia historian and professor Jeffery C. Wells recounts this tragic tale.
About the author
Jeffery Wells is assistant professor of history and department chair at Georgia Military College's Atlanta campus. In addition to writing for his popular blog, Georgia Mysteries, ? Wells is working on a book about Georgia's Bigfoot (forthcoming from Idyl Arbor Press). He has written articles for the New Georgia Encyclopedia online and chapters for the Georgia Criterion Reference Test on Georgia History. He is a member of the Georgia Association of Historians, the Southern Historical Association, Clayton/Henry County Genealogical Society and the Robert Penn Warren Circle. He serves as guest presenter for McDonough Haunted History Tours in conjunction with local bookstore Bell, Book & Candle. He has a short article on the Camp Creek Crash forthcoming in Georgia Backroads magazine (Fall 2009).
